Pearl Shining Across the Water

"Pearl Shining Across the Water" is a Xiangqi (Chinese Chess) puzzle from the collection Hundred Game Manual. Red moves first and wins in 37 moves; the key first move is R5+1. Below you will find the full solution, what each move achieves, where it could go wrong, and the alternative defences.

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Pieces on the board

Red has a General, 2 Chariots, 2 Cannons, 2 Soldiers. Black has a General, a Elephant, a Chariot, a Cannon, 3 Soldiers.

Solution move by move

1. Red R5+1 (check, sacrifices the Chariot)
1. Black K4=5 (captures the Chariot)
2. Red R3=5 (captures the Elephant, check)
2. Black K5=4
3. Red R5=6 (check, the only legal reply)
3. Black K4=5
4. Red C1=5 (check, sacrifices the Cannon)
4. Black R5-3 (captures the Cannon)
5. Red R6-5 (captures the Soldier)
5. Black R5+3
6. Red C2=5 (check, sacrifices the Cannon)
6. Black R5-2 (captures the Cannon)
7. Red R6+7 (check, the only legal reply)
7. Black K5+1
8. Red K6+1
8. Black R5=6
9. Red P4=3
9. Black P5+1
10. Red R6-3
10. Black R6+2 (check)
11. Red K6+1
11. Black R6=5
12. Red P3+1
12. Black P5+1
13. Red R6=5 (check, the only legal reply)
13. Black K5=6
14. Red P3+1 (check)
14. Black K6+1
15. Red R5=1
15. Black K6=5
16. Red P3=4
16. Black K5=6
17. Red P4=5
17. Black K6=5
18. Red P5=6
18. Black K5=6
19. Red R1+1 (check, the only legal reply)
19. Black K6-1
20. Red R1-5
20. Black K6+1
21. Red R1+5 (check, the only legal reply)
21. Black K6-1
22. Red R1-3
22. Black C9=7
23. Red R1=3
23. Black C7+1
24. Red P7+1
24. Black R5-2
25. Red K6-1
25. Black C7=9
26. Red R3+1
26. Black R5=6
27. Red R3+3 (check)
27. Black K6+1
28. Red R3-1 (check, the only legal reply)
28. Black K6-1
29. Red R3=5
29. Black C9-8
30. Red R5-3 (captures the Soldier)
30. Black C9=4 (captures the Soldier)
31. Red P7+1
31. Black R6-3
32. Red P7+1
32. Black R6-1
33. Red P7+1
33. Black C4+1
34. Red P7=6
34. Black C4=5
35. Red R5=2
35. Black C5+7
36. Red R2+4 (check, the only legal reply)
36. Black K6-1
37. Red R2=1

Final position

The record ends here.

Questions about this puzzle

Who moves first in "Pearl Shining Across the Water"?

Red moves first, as in every puzzle of Hundred Game Manual.

How many moves does the solution take?

37 moves. The main line is shown above; alternative defences are covered in the variations section.

What is the key move?

The first move R5+1 starts the combination. Everything that follows depends on it.

Can I play this position myself?

Yes. Open it on ChessZing, where the board checks your moves and shows the solution if you get stuck.

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